Presidential campaign, Russia confirms contact with Mr. Trump's adviser

The Russian government has confirmed it has been contacted by a Donald Trump adviser about a real estate project in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Wednesday he received an email from Mr. Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, regarding the revival of a project to build a Kule Trump in Moscow.

“I can confirm that I got an email from Mr. Michael Cohen. This really happened” Peskov said in response to journalists' questions in Moscow.

Peskov said he has not responded to the email because he was not linked to his job as a spokesman, nor has he discussed the matter with Putin.

Michael Cohen said in a statement to the House of Representatives Intelligence Commission, which is investigating Russian intervention in last year's presidential elections, that Mr. Trump's company sought to revive the construction project in Moscow. According to documents handed over to Congress on Monday, the request for help was made through an email that Mr. Cohen sent to Mr. Peskov in January 2016.

Because this project is very important, I'm asking for your help. I ask that someone with respect, possibly you, contact me so I can discuss details as well as arrange meetings with the right individuals”, wrote Mr. Cohen.

Michael Cohen said the project was abandoned for various reasons.

Mr. Cohen's e-mail represents the most direct example of communication of a Mr. Trump deputy with a senior Russian government official. Contact between Mr. Trump's associates and Russian officials has been the focus of several investigations into Russia's intervention in the 2016 presidential election.

Organza Trump, a global-wide company whose owner is Mr. Trump, issued a statement Monday on the issue.

Be clear that the Trump Organisation has never had any real estate or interest in Russia”, It says in the statement. Trump, however, two years ago has signed a <x0-letter without legal power over the company's” targets for the proposed project. / VOA/